Saffenburg

The Saffenburg is a ruined medieval hilltop castle standing 253 metres above sea level in the village of Mayschoß. It overlooks the Ahr valley and is the oldest castle ruin in that stretch of the river. The long rocky ridge on which it was built is surrounded on three sides by the Ahr and cut through by two railway tunnels. The fortress once commanded a complex of two outer baileys and a core keep separated by deep ditches. The stone from these ditches was reused in the walls, but today only low foundations remain, merging with the natural rock. A major restoration began in 2004 and by 2007 the ruins were open to walkers again. Visitors follow the outline of the vanished walls along the ridge. From the highest point there are wide views down the Ahr valley and across to the railway tunnels. The path crosses the old trench lines and passes places where the masonry still shows above ground. The silence is broken only by the sound of the river below.